Improvement in packing tobacco



UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA P. MCOOOK, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

-IMPROVEMENT IN PACKING TOBACCO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Q09,90S, dated November 12, 1878; application filed v November 4, 1878.

tion It consists in forming the tobacco into angular plugs or blocks by pressing or by cutting pressed plugs into proper form and size, the angular plugs or blocks being of different sizes, and wrapping the same in foils of dit'- ferent colors, and packing them in a box or case, so that the lot therein shall have a variegated appearance.

In practice, I prefer to form the tobacco by any suitable means into cubes the sides of which are au inch or an inch and a half long, and in blocks three of which will be equal to one of the cubes, and cover them with tin-foil, using different colors of foil, and then arrang ing the blocks or plugs in the package so that plugs or blocks having coverings ofthe same color will not be side by side, but separated by a contrasting color, so as to give the eomplete package a variegated appearance. When the case or package is filled, Iput it into what is usually known in tobacco-factories as a pot-mill, and press the blocks or plugs snugly together, giving the package a compact, solid character, while at the same time the blocks or plugs are prevented by their coverings from adhering together, and may be easily detached without interruptingthose adjacent.

The wrapping and pressing of the blocks or plugs into the complete package is of great value in preventing moldas by this means the air is thoroughly excluded from the interior of the package.

I also perforate or stamp the covering of olle or more sides of the covered plugs, so as to form. any desired initials or designs, the perforation extending through the covering and into the tobacco or the stamp, so indenting both covering and tobacco that after the covering is removed the initials or design will still appear upon the side of the block or plug.

In the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a package of blocks or plugs of tobacco according to my invention, three sides of the outside easing being removed. Fig. 2 shows a detaehed cubical block. Fig. 3 shows a parallelopiped, three of which are equal to a cube. Fig. et shows three of the plugs put together to form a cube. Fig.5 shows a section through a cube.

The letter A indicates the cubes, and c the smaller plugs, three of which are equal to a cube, and b the covering, preferably ot tin-foil.

It will be seen that the cubes and smaller plugs may be packed in symmetrical rectangular stacks convenient for packing in rectangular packages.

The initials indicated by c are made up of a series of perforations arranged in proper manner, and may be formed by a suitable stamp, and varied as desired.

'lhe object in forming the blocks or plugs of different. sizes is to accommodate the retail trade by furnishing complete blocks or plugs of different pieces without cutting, while at the same time preserving the symmetry of the package.

What I claim is- A package, case, or box of plug-tobacco in small angularpieces Of diiferent dimensions wrapped in foils of different colors, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOSHUA I). MOOOOK. Witnesses: i

J Arms L. NoRRIs,

J As. A. RUTHERFORD. 

